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Oxford Students Throw Party With 'Fit Jews'
November 14, 2008 12:22 PM
By AMMU KANNAMPILLY, ABC News London
Oxford University is in the news this week but for all the wrong reasons.
The controversy? The university’s under-21 rugby team reportedly threw a party with the theme “Bring a Fit Jew.”
Partygoers reportedly caricatured Orthodox Jews -- attaching side locks to their heads and carrying bags of money –- at the event, which was reportedly held Wednesday at a South Asian restaurant.
News of the party plans leaked out before the event took place.
In an interview with ABC News, Aaron Katchen, the university’s Jewish chaplain, said he began working with the Oxford University Student Union to have the party canceled about 10 days before the party.
“OUSU [the Oxford University Student Union] was in touch with the director of Rugby, and we were assured that the party was not going ahead with the original theme,” Katchen said.
“Then, on Wednesday night, we were informed that that was not the case, when I was contacted by people who had witnessed it. But whether the official theme of the party stayed the same, or whether it was just a few students who decided to turn up in costume, it’s unclear.”
Katchen said that a number of “quite upset” students –- Jewish and non-Jewish –- had called him to complain about the party.
After the uproar over the party appeared in the student press, the university opened an investigation into the matter.
In a statement released to ABC News, the university said it was “currently investigating a report about inappropriate behavior by two or three students. We cannot comment on the case as we are yet to establish the facts. However, the university condemns unreservedly racial stereotyping.”
Phil Boon, the captain of the under-21 team, told reporters that he “didn't see what the problem was.” He said that Jewish girls had accepted invites to the party. “I can understand why it might have offended some people, but it would have been an awesome social,” he said.
The apparent absence of any remorse is suggestive of what Katchen describes as the “general insensitivity to the Other in the U.K.”
“Obviously no country is immune to racism, but compared to the U.S. and Canada, I find it to be more overt here,” he said.
There may be some truth to that sentiment: News of this party comes only a month after Britain’s University of Gloucestershire hit the headlines for a Nazi-style student initiation ceremony that was caught on tape.
And, in January 2005, Prince Harry ran into rough weather when the U.K. tabloid The Sun published pictures of him wearing a German uniform and a swastika armband to a fancy dress party.
The prince apologized for his “poor choice of costume.” As this latest flap shows, though, it may be some time before we hear the last of such parties.
Read more blogs from Ammu Kannampilly
November 14, 2008 in Ammu Kannampilly | Permalink | User Comments (93)
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It s funny that people harass jews but never fail to use everything the jew has discovered which has benefitted society. i.e. polio vaccine, works of Einstein, freud, etc. Very interesting but i thinks its jealousy of jews that promotes this hatred
Posted by: gregg | Nov 14, 2008 1:36:27 PM
None of the comments detesting the incident said exactly what was done that was so terrible. Black guys are on commercials in Baltimore dressed as Indians with tomahawks ("Native American" is an insult to the rest of us born here). Men can dress up as women at football games, and that's not an affront to women. And when a top movie features a foreigner in an ethnic costume, thousands of trick-or-treaters are sent out in copy-cat costumes, even when they're less than complimentary.
I once ran a fundraiser with a guy who wore blackface and sang Al Jolson songs. People said the guy was racist until our county's leading Black politician bought ten tickets. Then the same people said it was ok to see a portrayal of a great singer from an earlier time.
Posted by: Mickey | Nov 14, 2008 1:38:13 PM
D.B.- Are you sure Judaism isnt a race as well as a religion? I thought being Jewish is also a racial thing, since humanistic Jews are Jews who consider themselves culturally and ethnically Jewish (I think). I guess I always thought that because my grandmother was a Holocaust survivor so I'm a quarter Jewish, and people have always told me, oh, you're part Jewish.
Posted by: Frances | Nov 14, 2008 1:39:47 PM
Hey, Banned, I know why you were banned. You're a racist moron. If you think Jews are sissies, please let me know I will personally show you how wrong you are.
Posted by: Nonya | Nov 14, 2008 1:40:23 PM
umm, no gregg jews are not the only ones to have discover important things. both christians and muslims have to. So now we are back at point A. So how are you dirty people better than anyone else?
Posted by: Banned from ABC 39 times | Nov 14, 2008 1:40:24 PM
Nonya, Jews are sissies. How are you gonna prove this to me again? Please let me know.
Posted by: Banned from ABC 39 times | Nov 14, 2008 1:42:36 PM
gregg- for real. Einstein practically created the our current political atmosphere as we know it (Helping out with the whole atomic bomb thing.)
Posted by: Frances | Nov 14, 2008 1:42:42 PM
True Jew? What BS! A Jew by Choice is seen as more an honorable Jew than one born Jewish. BECAUSE they choose! You narrow minded nuts are jerks by choice!!!!!!!!
Posted by: FACTCHEQ | Nov 14, 2008 1:43:15 PM
I totally agree with Frances. It will only annoy you if you let it to. I wonder why some people are more sensitive than others. Is there any historical explanation?
Posted by: Be Happy | Nov 14, 2008 1:43:46 PM
Jews are a people, Judaism is a religion. You can be a Chrisian Jew, Muslim Jew & so forth, so Jews are a people.
Posted by: Cindy | Nov 14, 2008 1:44:25 PM
You are correct 'Banned from ABC 39 times' I was also wronged by religious wimps. My Pedophile Priest Party didn't go off so well either. Who knew people were so whiney?
Posted by: AltarBoy | Nov 14, 2008 1:44:37 PM
FACTCHEQ, is that why some major Rabbi's in Jerusalem just said that converts are fake jews and no their jewish status is in question? Hell I think I even read it on ABCNEWS.COM
Common people, NEXT
Posted by: Banned from ABC 39 times | Nov 14, 2008 1:45:53 PM
Hey, Banned, I know why you were banned. You're a racist moron. If you think Jews are sissies, please let me know I will personally show you how wrong you are.
Posted by: Nonya | Nov 14, 2008 1:48:26 PM
Nonya, I'll say it again. JEWS ARE SISSIES. Please come show me otherwise.
Posted by: Banned from ABC 39 times | Nov 14, 2008 1:50:28 PM
An idiot said: "muslims........ALL GET MADE FUN OF AND HARDLY ANYONE COMPLAINS."
NO Muslims love being made fun of....You didn't know a Fatwah was a way of appreciating a joke?? That Mohammad cartoon was a hit in Cairo....and Londonistan
Posted by: AltarBoy | Nov 14, 2008 1:50:56 PM
Just because people racially stereotype and make fun of other religions and nationalities doesn't make it right, no matter who complains more about it. I don't understand why people feel the necessity to put down other people who are different from them.
I honestly don't know how people who are that close-minded and ignorant function in society today.
Posted by: Lane Rosencrans | Nov 14, 2008 1:51:34 PM
Alterboy, go let your priest fondle you and leave anything with critical thinking to people that have a brain. I never, said Jesus, I never said Mohammad, I never said Moses. I said JEWS.
Posted by: Banned from ABC 39 times | Nov 14, 2008 1:53:22 PM
Banned, Are you a troll? Or are you really that F-ed up. Perhaps you should spend some time in a concentration camp.
Posted by: Nightflyer | Nov 14, 2008 1:53:28 PM
My local hardware store runs a special on 2x4 lumber and 10penny nails as an Easter holiday 'nail-him-up' special.
Should I be offended?
Posted by: AltarBoy | Nov 14, 2008 1:53:59 PM
Frances - the article states that "orthodox Jews" were caricatured. And it was a Jewish chaplin that was active in attempting to prevent the caricature. While we don't have the full info from the story, this appears to have been a lampoon of actions, not of genetics. I was raised Roman Catholic, but there is nothing in my genes making me believe in the Roman Catholic version of supernaturalism, any more than a Jew would be. It’s a decision to believe or not believe something, and to act or not act on that belief. I condemn racism. But critique of religious belief is fare game, and indeed, it is high time all religious belief is openly examined in the light of day. I strongly oppose the attempts to shield religious belief from criticism, by some people falsely linking critique of religious belief to racism. Personally I think this was more about college kids wanting to get drunk and party. But I am responding to those who would try to protect religious belief from the scrutiny it deserves.
Posted by: D.B. | Nov 14, 2008 1:56:29 PM
I dont care if you are offended or not Alterboy but that did make me LOL
And Nightflyer, im not a troll and yea I guess im pretty f-ed up. But not as f-ed up as the jews were about 60-70 yrs ago =]
ouch b*tch
Posted by: Banned from ABC 39 times | Nov 14, 2008 1:57:07 PM
"Alterboy, go let your priest fondle you and leave anything with critical thinking to people that have a brain. I never, said Jesus, I never said Mohammad, I never said Moses. I said JEWS."
OHHH, it's offensive to make fun of MOSES, or JESUS but ok for any other Jews, cool. Gotcha. Real Critical Thinking..HAHAHA
Posted by: AltarBoy | Nov 14, 2008 1:58:18 PM
As a Jewish person, I find Banned's comments to be extremely disturbing. You think we are sissies, do you? Why don't you look up the Warsaw Uprising? Why don't you do some research on the Israeli Army and the number of times they've had to fight off every Arab nation that surrounds them? And Pontius Pilot killed Jesus. Guess what? Hateful people have tried to get rid of us since the beginning of recorded history. It hasn't happened because we're tough and because G-d has not abandoned His covenent with us.
Posted by: Jason | Nov 14, 2008 1:58:19 PM
Banned from ABC... you're an idiot. Just for the record.
Posted by: Scott | Nov 14, 2008 2:00:10 PM
Banned, now you'll understand Judaism............
Ask RUTH............!
Posted by: FQ | Nov 14, 2008 2:00:15 PM
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